Gerunds and Infinitives can be either the subject or object of the sentence. In this case they act as nouns in the sentence.
| GERUND | INFINITIVE |
| VERB + ING
Example: Read = Reading |
TO + VERB
Example: Read = To Read |
Subjects
Gerund Running is fun.
Infinitive To run is fun.
It is better to use a gerund as the subject of the sentence. An infinitive is very formal and doesn’t sound very good. It can sound poetic, philosophical, or classical literature
Objects
Gerund I like running.
Object I like to run.
Deciding between a gerund and an infinitive as objects is much more difficult than subjects. You must learn which verbs are followed by gerunds, infinitives, or both. The list below shows you the differences.
Verbs Followed by Gerunds
| admit
anticipate appreciate avoid can’t help complete consider delay deny discuss
|
dislike
don’t mind enjoy finish get through give up imagine keep keep on mention mind miss pospone |
practice
quit recall recollect recommend resent resist risk stop suggest tolerate understand |
Verbs Followed by Infinitives
| agree
appear arrange ask care choose claim consent decide demand deserve desire |
fail
guarantee happen hope know how learn manage tend offer |
prepare
promise refuse seem struggle swear volunteer wait want wish
|
Verbs Followed by Both
| can afford
allow attempt can bear begin can’t stand continue dread |
expect
forget go hate hesitate intend like love neglect |
plan
prefer pretend regret remember start stop threaten try |
With the lists above, you can learn how to use gerunds and infinitives correctly. The tests below check your understanding.
Gerunds and Infinitives Test
Gerunds and Infinitives Test 2
Gerunds and Infinitives Test 3
Here is a logic activity to have some fun and practice gerunds and infinitives at the same time:
Gerunds and Infinitives Logic Activity